Ready for Junior Guards? Everyone in the Water!

Summer just wouldn’t seem the same without our local junior lifeguards cruising the beaches in their blue bathing suits, and March and April wouldn’t be quite the same without the yearly-panic-quick-get into-swim-shape frenzy of our youngsters that are attempting to join the group for the first time. In fact, classes will be offered through Swim Focus at the Belmont outdoor pool for just this reason. To join the class get in touch with Hank Wise at hankwise@gmail.com. To qualify to participate in the Long Beach Junior Lifeguard program, youngsters (ages 9-17) need to swim 100 yards in less than two minutes.

The Long Beach Junior Guard website offers a nice overview of the program which is held Monday-Friday, June 27 through Aug. 5, and includes prices and dates for all activities. There is a morning session and an afternoon session. The morning runs from 9 a.m.-noon and the afternoon session is from 1-4 p.m. The six week program is packed with all beach-related skills and activities, public service activities, field trips and competitions -- even the parents get to participate one day. I have personally heard from a lot of youngsters that absolutely loved the program. It is always a big talk around town come springtime.

Since I have a 9-year-old who plans to try out for the first time, I have talked to many parents that say their child is not too sure about trying this for the first time but when I speak to kids that have participated; I get an overwhelmingly positive response. I sense there is something magical about getting out there and learning how to save lives as well as improving skills, making friends and getting fit at the same time.

This week I spoke with the junior lifeguard coordinator Jeff Gillott and some previous junior lifeguard participants to get some hints and thoughts about junior lifeguards and the upcoming summer 2011 tryouts.

Patch: When did this program start?

Jeff Gillott: The present program started in 1969. It’s been going on for 42 years.

What made you want to be coordinator and can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

This is my first year as coordinator. I did the program when I was growing up and participated from 9-15 years old so it’s full circle. It’s something I have always wanted to do so I hope to stay awhile and it is good for consistency.

I became an ocean lifeguard at age 17 for the State of California/Huntington Beach.  At age 18 I became a lifeguard for the Long Beach Lifeguard Dept.  During my career as a seasonal Long Beach lifeguard, I was a junior lifeguard instructor for four summers.  I became a full time Marine Safety Officer in January of 2005.  In 2011, I became the Junior Lifeguard Coordinator.  I was born and raised in Long Beach, and am a current resident.  I have been married for eight years, and my wife and I have two daughters ages 4 and 6.  I enjoy prone, and stand up paddling, and am an 11-time finisher of the 32-mile Catalina Classic Paddleboard race.

Who would be a good candidate for the Long Beach junior lifeguard program?

Any child ages 9-17 that is interested in learning, having fun and meeting new friends.

Can you try again if you don’t make the first time? How many times can you try?

There is no limit. We offer five tryouts and the kids can try as many times as they want. They can dive in, jump in, flip turn or open turn but they must get 100 yards complete by 1:59.59. We have had kids get that exact time. If they don’t make it we try to give them a few hints for the next time but if a child is close to the time, even if they make it, they should try to get some more swimming in before junior lifeguards start.

Is it realistic to think that your child can take 15 seconds or so off of their time by the end of tryouts if they try out and get 2:15?

We have had kids that have knocked off 15-20 seconds. Sometimes they don’t know their own ability and they can do it if they are encouraged, but we always stick to the time because of the safety issue. We have a 30-to-1 ratio of instructors to children so they need to be competent swimmers but they don’t have to be on a swim team.

Do kids sometimes find it is not for them?

At most, a dozen kids drop out for any reason, family vacation, etc. You can get a full refund (minus the AAU swim fee) if you drop before July 1.

How many days can children miss junior lifeguards?

We ask for no more than one week of JLG or five days. We are teaching every day so it is important to keep up.

Do most kids come back for a second year?

They do. Our C and B group are the biggest. With the A group, life gets busy so we are trying to have a mentor program where A’s help lower groups and they learn CPR and we have them do a mock tryout for becoming a lifeguard with the test and mock interview. We also have shadow guarding where we put A’s in lifeguard tower and send them on some rescues. We try to make it a little different to get them (the A’s) back and get them ready to be lifeguards (if they want).

Are there more boys or girls or same?

I’d say it is pretty equal. Back when I did the program there were 200 total kids; last year it was 500. We want the program to grow.

Do you put skill level together or just age?

It’s by age group. Group C are 9-11 year olds, Group B, 12 to 13 year olds, and Group A, 14 to 17, year olds.

What do kids and their parents need to know before joining?

We are doing a lottery system for the first time. People were starting to line up at 4:30 a.m. to get in so to alleviate that system we started a lottery that will occur after all tryouts and each tryout time will be a lottery for the new junior lifeguards who want morning. (Morning is the more popular time so returning junior lifeguards and their siblings get the first chance to request morning followed by the lottery system for morning).

Can you request for a buddy to be in your group?

We tend not to encourage it. We like putting them in and letting them meet new friends.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Safety is our No. 1 priority always. We encourage kids to try everything and they get a certificate of completion at the end if they try everything. We end the season with the Stud Iron Man which is a four-mile run and two-mile swim and they need to finish under two hours to get a T-shirt; some just make it. They don’t get a T-shirt if it is even one second over, but they get a certificate of completion and In-n-Out french fries. Rich Foster started the tradition and did the course in 1:59.59 so that’s how the time got started. It’s exciting. We try to get everyone to complete it or try their best, and the parents often run alongside with their kids.

Also, we like to emphasize that it (junior lifeguards) is not day care. It is a lot of hard work but the kids like it and feel good about themselves.

Patch then asked three former participants about their experiences with JLG and tips for newcomers.

What was your favorite thing about junior lifeguards?

Lily Seitelman (13 years old, going into her third summer as a junior lifeguard): I really enjoy how you get to feel so good and get a really good workout, but it is fun and you are with your friends. It’s a blast and you get to explore Long Beach. It’s really fun.

Zachary Pettway (12 years old, going into third summer): If I had to pick a favorite it would be hanging out with friends and getting to swim and go to the beach every day for a month and they have field trips. We get to go to Wild Rivers.

Cressa Wilmoth (10 years old, going into second summer): Being with my friends and going to Wild Rivers.

Do you have any tips for those who are just starting out this year?

LS: It is probably a good idea to do some running and maybe some swim lessons because they get you right into and it is hard but it is fun because you are exploring and you are motivated unlike running around a track.